Health Benefits of Donating Blood

Someone needs blood every two seconds. There are several benefits of donating blood, and one donation can help save multiple lives. Blood is essential for life. Oxygen would never reach your cells without blood, and carbon dioxide would fill your blood vessels. People with cancer or those who have been in accidents and require heart surgery or organ transplants all need platelet or blood donations.

How often can you donate blood? You can donate as often as every 56 days, up to six times per year if you donate whole blood. Donating blood can benefit you personally, including improved heart and emotional health. Read on to learn about the benefits and possible risks of donating blood.

Benefits

Donating blood can save multiple lives. There are also several health benefits for donors, including improved heart health, emotional health, and more.

Mini Health Check-Up

You'll have to complete a quick physical before you give blood. A healthcare provider will measure your pulse, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels.

The healthcare provider will collect your blood and then send it off to a lab. Your blood will get tested for at least nine different pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and HIV-2, both of which cause HIV. You'll be notified right away if anything comes back positive.

The physical and blood tests are no reason to skip an annual visit to a healthcare provider, but they're good for peace of mind. Never donate blood if you suspect you might actually be sick or have been exposed to HIV or another virus.

Healthier Heart and Vascular System

Your blood will slowly flow if it has a high viscosity, or resistance to flow. Blood becomes less viscous, in contrast, if you donate it. This can result in easier blood flow.

You may have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease due to the improved blood flow. Donating blood might result in a reduction in the lipid profile (coronary risk panel), which contains coronary artery risk tests. Repeated blood donations can help the blood flow in a way that's less damaging to the lining of the blood vessels and leads to fewer blockages.

Improved Emotional Well-Being

Research has shown that donating blood can improve your emotional health. Helping others has been linked to:

• Decreased stress
• Reduced negative feelings
• A sense of belonging

Keeping Iron in Check

Adults usually have about 3 to 4 grams (g) of iron in the body, mostly in red blood cells but also in bone marrow. Iron is needed for growth, development, and transportation of oxygen to different parts of the body.

Having too little or too much iron in the blood can be harmful to your health. Hemochromatosis is a disorder that occurs as a result of harmful iron levels. Symptoms include abdominal pain, darkening of the skin, painful joints, and weakness. Frequently giving blood is one thing that can lower the amount of iron in your body. Lowering high iron levels can be a good thing as long as they do not go too low.

You might gain an additional heart health benefit from a decrease in iron levels after blood donations. A study published in 2014 noted that decreased iron levels are linked to a lowered risk of heart disease.

You lose about a quarter of a gram of iron when you donate a unit of blood. The foods you eat in the weeks after donation replenish iron levels. 

Possible Detoxification Effects

The body can detoxify itself naturally with help from your liver. Giving blood may help the body's detoxing potential. Blood donations have been shown to affect the levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). PFASs are chemical compounds found in consumer and industrial products, such as grease-resistant paper and fire-extinguishing foam. 

These chemicals take a long time to break down and can cause many issues, including:

• Decreased immune system responses
• Developmental delays
• Increased risk of some cancers and obesity
• Reproductive problems

A study published in 2022 found that firefighters who gave plasma or blood donations over 12 months had lower levels of PFASs than those who did not. The donations seemed to play a role in decreasing the chemicals in the participants' bodies. More research is needed to determine if blood donations can provide any other detoxing benefits.

Side Effects of Donating Blood

Donating blood is generally safe. Mild side effects might occur, but donors are usually able to resume their daily activities quickly.

Side effects might include:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• A feeling of warmth and discomfort
• Headache
• Loss of color from the skin
• Nausea and vomiting

You can typically drink water, eat iron-rich foods, and rest to get rid of side effects. Try lying down or sitting with your head between your knees if you are dizzy. Pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) can get rid of a headache.

Side Effects of Donating Plasma

Donating plasma (a yellowy liquid part of blood that contains proteins and no blood cells) might cause side effects similar to those of donating blood. These include:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Dehydration
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Infections

What To Know Before Donating

You must meet the following requirements to donate blood or plasma:

• Are 17 or older
• Are healthy
• Weigh 110 pounds or more

Certain health conditions can prevent you from donating blood. Experts urge people with low hemoglobin levels against giving blood. Hemoglobin is a protein that makes up red blood cells. People with anemia lack red blood cells or hemoglobin. Anemia is most commonly due to an iron deficiency.

People who have not reached menopause yet may also find it hard to donate blood. Pre-menopausal people can be iron deficient. Taking an oral iron supplement may help you re-qualify if you have low iron and still want to be a donor. Talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any supplements.

There are other circumstances in which you may not be able to give blood. The American Red Cross says having traveled to or lived in a malaria-risk country can move your chances of giving blood to a later time. There may also be waiting periods after taking medications (e.g., antibiotics or blood thinners) or getting vaccinations before you can give blood.

Another thing to note is how often you donate blood. Giving blood too regularly can lead to iron deficiency. You can donate as often as:

• Every seven days, up to 24 times per year, if you are donating platelets
• Every 56 days, up to six times per year, if you are donating whole blood
• Every 112 days, up to three times per year, if you are making a Power Red donation (when a machine is used so that you can donate two units of red blood cells safely)

A Quick Review

There are some benefits to blood donations if you want to give blood and can do so safely. Benefits include receiving a health check-up, supporting heart health, and possibly detoxing your body. Do not forget who you are really helping. It's important to recognize how important willing blood donors are to people who need blood transfusions. Even one donation can help save multiple lives.